Eddy, Roger Whittlesay

April 02, 2003

EDDY, Roger Whittlesay

Roger Whittlesey Eddy died after a brief illness on Saturday, (March 29, 2003) at his home. Born in Newington, son of the late E. Welles and Clara (Whittlesey) Eddy, he was a life-long resident. He attended Newington Public Schools, Noah Webster in Hartford, Kingswood and The Loomis School, graduating in 1938. He finished Yale six months before scheduled graduation in 1942 to serve in the Army, having drawn number 11 in the draft. He played football and ran track at Yale. Roger set a world record in the 440 yard shuttle relay in 1941, which was broken 20 minutes later at a meet in Texas. He served in the US Army, 10th Mountain Division, during World War II, ending his active duty as Major. He fought in the Pacific Theater in the Aleutian Islands and in the European Theater in Italy. Roger was stricken with polio returning home from Italy after the war. In 1946 he married Deborah (Bankart) Eddy. Mr. Eddy was active in national and state politics and town affairs. He served as a state representative, a state senator, and ran for the U.S. Senate in 1986. He was a Republican National Committeeman and chaired the Newington Board of Education, served as chairman of the Lucy Robbins Welles Library and was a former Newington tax collector. In addition, he was the Chairman of the Metropolitan District Commission. Mr. Eddy had four novels published and numerous articles for a wide range of magazines and newspapers. He invented the Audubon Bird Call and manufactured it in Newington. He operated a roadside vegetable stand for over 40 years employing hundreds of local boys and girls. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Deborah, his two daughters and sons-in-law, Heidi B.E. and Douglas Riggs, of Sharon, Lucy L.E. and James Fox, of Wakefield, RI; and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. at Eddy Farm in Newington. Private burial with military honors will be in Center Cemetery, Newington. Memorial donations may be made to the Lucy Welles Robbins Library, 95 Cedar St., Newington, CT 06111. The Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington is serving the family. To share a memory with the family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.